Star Wars: Edge of Hope

Chapter Forty Eight: Mortis Rising....

The voiceless scream hit Ben like a thousand knives stabbing him all over, he fought furiously against the growing white hot whine of the cries, but the pain was so strong it took him right off his feet. Struggling through the blur Ben raised his head towards the foggy eyed stone, but as he fought to focus in Maul appeared.

Ben Solo: What have you done?!

Darth Maul: I have done what was commanded of me. I serve the Darkside. Now we will rise, and destroy every last shred of the JEDI in the awakening of a New Era. The only pity is you won't be alive to witness it...heir to Skywalker.

As Maul ignited his staff saber Ben fought to bring his hand up, he could feel the lightsabers switch beneath his finger, but a new wave of pain flattened him causing him to drop the saber. Maul circled him like a hungry animal standing over it's prey about to deliver the cruelest strike. As hard as Ben fought the heavier the weight felt as it pinned him down, Ben watched the crimson Sith blades flying through the air as Maul crept in and out of his line of sight. Ben's eye looked out across the shaking hazy ground towards the Blind Gate, he could barely make out Rey's outline, he could feel her fading away with each blink and breath. She was drifting farther and farther out of his reach, as Maul moved across his field of vision one last time before taking his stance to drive his saber through his back...
She fell.
Ben felt the thud of her body as it landed hard in a clumping heap on the ground. He watched the cracks in the glassy eye spread farther out and the smokey film become an icy white. He tried to call to her through the Force, then reached out and pulled at every fiber of the thread binding them to each other. But the connection...the thread had gone slack...

Ben Solo: NOOOO!!!

Darth Maul: You have failed. You have maintained the legacy of your family....destroying the thing they love most...and now you will die.

Ben could feel the tears draining out down his face as he looked across the gap between them . He could no longer see her clearly. The blazing glow inside her had been pulled out, the Light extinguished. She lay there grey and empty, and cruelest of all....alone. Ben raged against the hold on him, he fought pushing against it with every ounce of strength he had. But he couldn't move...he couldn't reach her...then something broke inside him. He could feel the darkness testing his defenses. The old familiar twinging of its poisonous fingers as they dragged themselves across his soul setting fire to him. And for a moment, Ben let the thought of release hang in the air around him, but then he heard a familiar voice in his head.

Ahsoka: Don't give into the lie, Ben. You're stonger than he is. Stronger than your grandfather was. You are not alone, Ben Solo. You have never been alone.

Ben could feel her moving closer.

Ben Solo: You're vision is flawed...because without her...there isn't anything left for me to lose. But if this our fate then we'll meet it together! AaaarrGHHH!

Ben reached up, focusing all his strength and mind he began to shake the stone ceiling, huge slivers of stone began falling all around them. Some landing in the bloody black waters of the grotto, Ben could feel the cold growing in his bones, and as he felt his strength weakening he kept his eyes on Rey's slack body. He kept his heart with her...it had always belonged with her...Ben let the sorrow wash over him as he contorted his grasp slowly bringing each finger in with a pulse of energy, The very foundations of the island seemed to teeter on their moorings, Maul felt himself being cast back and forth, his anger seething up from with venomous intent as he caught hold of his balance, as he leaned into what would have been a lethal blow Ben heard the familiar sound of blades clashing.

Darth Maul: You! IMPOSSIBLE!

Ahsoka ducked under Maul's recounter sweeping a side step off a fallen chunk of stone she landed a heavy kick to the head sending Maul rolling across the uneven ground. As she landed her twin white blades deactivated as she reached down to Ben Solo. Ben felt the shift come as her hand took his and struggling a bit at first Ahsoka managed to pull Ben up to his feet. Then reaching behind her she tossed his saber over to him.